Activities
Whale Watching & Big 5 Marine Cruises
Enter the natural habitat of the Marine Big 5 in South Africa, for the opportunity to see Whales, Dolphins, Penguins, Seals and Great White Sharks
Cost
From ZAR 1 950 per person sharing
PRIVATE TOUR (24 pax) – ZAR60 650
(Local travellers rates available)
Dates
All Year
Tour size
2-24 people
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at The Great White House, you will view an introductory briefing concerning the itinerary, safety protocols, and notable highlights. Get dressed in essential life-jackets and waterproof jackets for safety and convenience.
The duration of the Marine Big 5 Tour spans between 2 to 2.5 hours, depending upon wildlife sightings and prevailing weather conditions. All tours launch from Kleinbaai Harbour in close proximity to Gansbaai. Dyer Island, located 8 km offshore, stands as an access-controlled Important Bird Area (IBA), safeguarding numerous resident avian species, including the endangered African penguin. Situated adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, which is home to a robust colony of 60,000 Cape fur seals, present year-round. Our journey will take us through the world-famous channel known as ‘Shark Alley’, nestled between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. Next, we will navigate to prime whale viewing areas within the bay.
The Southern right whale season extends from June to November, during which the focus shifts to observing these magnificent creatures as they visit our coastal waters for mating and calving purposes. Throughout the year, we may encounter the more reserved resident Bryde’s whale. The period spanning December to June offers opportunities to actively search for this species during the tours. Additionally, we may encounter the majestic Humpback whales during the initiation and conclusion of their migration cycle. Our region also boasts three distinct dolphin species—common, bottlenose, and the endangered humpback variety. As luck would have it, we may have the privilege of encountering one of these species. This marine adventure includes a visit to the shark cage diving vessels in the area to offer a sighting of a bronze whaler shark or the awe-inspiring great white shark.
It’s important to acknowledge that this is wildlife we work with and we cannot guarantee sightings; however, the dedicated team strives to provide opportunities to witness as many members of the Marine Big 5 as possible.
**Southern right whale season Mid-June – November
Location
Activity includes
Boat Trip
Coffee, tea and muffins served on arrival followed by warm soup and bread after the trip
safety and weather jacket, Towels and blankets on board, bottled water on board
Visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary
Possibility to see Southern Right whales, resident Bryde’s whales or Humpback whales, Sharks, Dolphins, Seals, Penguins, and a variety of other seabirds.
Activity excludes
Compulsory Conservation fee R50pp
meals and drinks, gratuities not incuded
Return transfers to/from Gaansbai (Available on request)
What to Wear & Bring: Sunscreen, always bring warm clothing as it is cooler at sea than on land. Comfortable closed shoes are advised. Bring Binoculars, camera, warm clothing.
Note:
All trips are weather and tide-dependent and launch times may vary accordingly from those stated. Your launch time will be confirmed the day before. Please allow enough time for transport from Cape Town (3 hours) and Hermanus (1 hour) when traveling to Gansbaai. Please be aware that there are road works en route and waiting times are included in the above traveling times.
